A Winner and What have I been doing?

Congratulations to the winner of my giveaway from the Think Christmas blog hop. The winner will receive my Santa Lesley table topper. Number 34 was chosen by Mr. Random Generator...drum roll...and the number belongs to Connie.  Congratulations, Connie, I have just sent you an email to get your address. Santa Lesley is packing the sleigh but needs to know where to go!  A big thank you to all who visited and left comments.

The blog hop has been finished for just a few days so I've had some time to work on some new projects and finish some old. Here are some picture of my "just finished this morning" quilt from the Fat Quarters Stars Quiltalong that was hosted by Konda at Moose on the Porch. I used fabrics from my stash with just a few extra pieces for the borders.  The quilt measures 60 x 76 and was machine quilted by Lynda Campbell of Fiddlestitches.

I finished up two little bags made with Mary Englebreit fabric using a free tutorial by Ayumi from the Pink Penguin.  She has some fantastic ideas and excellent tutorials.  I figure this little bag could be used for just about anything...maybe to hide fabric from curious hubbies? 

I also finished making my twelve hexies and have them all ready to hand applique to my background block.  I decided to just stay with reds and cream.  The borders will be chosen later...maybe a small black print? 

I needed a project for my quilting chair and this fits the bill. This will eventually become a quilt for Kathleen Tracy's Small Quilt of the Month program.I haven't been up to date, but when she suggested we should start making the little hexies in advance, I was hooked.  I picked up the idea of piecing different cream-colored fabrics for the background piece from one of the many talented quilters whose blogs I follow.  But my memory fails me. If this was your idea,  please let me know so I can give you credit and invite my readers to visit you.  

Thank you Nancy E!  She helped me remember that I saw this idea at Carols Crafty Creations on Carol's post of June 26 right here. Carol is amazing...for the entire month of July, she made a Christmas project each and every day.  Please visit her...your "to-do" list will get longer, but the projects are all easily done in a day...or so Carol tells us! 

I also finished the embroidery on a few more blocks of the Garden Steps Stitch and Quiltalong hosted by Clover and Violet.  We are getting close to the end with only one more stitchery and then it's time to complete the 12-block quilt. 

A few of you noticed in my Think Christmas post here that my table toppers were hanging from a wooden frame.  My wire frame is at the quilt shop, so I asked Woodworker Hubby if he could make one so I could take pictures of my Christmas blocks.  He did...I used it...I love it...here is the naked frame...don't you think it needs a new quilt? I better get busy...

I would imagine a lot of quilters out there are busy in their sewing rooms this week making bowls, bowls, and more bowls for Madame Samm's Bowls with Borders blog hop.  It starts on Monday, less than a week away!  I love the way that host Carol at  Just Let Me Quilt is sharing sneak peeks of some of the bowls made by some participants.  We are going to be bowled over...wink! 

This morning I'm heading out to help the ladies set up for the annual Quilt Show and Sale at the Causeway. We set up in a church that's 127 years old and aim to cover all the pews.  If you're anywhere near here, the show starts tomorrow.  Maybe I'll see you there...

It's a great day for quilting!